Apparatus for generating electrical potential



Feb. 2, 1932. s. RUBEN APPARATUS FOR GENERATINCT ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL Filed Sept. 1'7, 1929 vwawoz SAMUEL RUBEN 3515 /ns v JbtQWW/hf/ldeylw netic devices.

Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL RUBEN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ABSIGNOR TO RUBEN PATENTS COMPANY, 0F NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, A'CORPORATION 0I' DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL Application led September 17, 1929. Serial No. 393,307.

This invention relates to an apparatus for generating electrical potential, and more particularly it relates to such an apparatus for the generation of current directly from heat due to the combination of dissimilar materials, without the use of mechanical or mag- An object ofthe invention is the provision of a thermo-chemical means of generating potential with high efiiciency.

In the prior art the various devices applied Jfor'generating current directly from a source of heat have been purely experimental and of limited eiiiciency. The devices are such as those employing thermo-electric contacts and those using the frictional eiect of gases or vapors. The present invention utilizes a principle 'of operation Which is entirely novel; it employs the heat of formation of a compound or alloy of dissimilar materials; that is, one between certain electro-positive materials and a contacting relatively electronegative material.

I have found that when certain electropositive materials, such as potassium and sodium are placed in contact with a relatively electro-negative material, such as mercury, and an amalgam is so formed, a potential is generated at the point of Contact, corresponding to the energy liberated by the reaction in forming the amalgam. To generate a continuous current by alloying mercury and an alkali metal by this means the two materials are brought into contact, forming an amalgam, the two materials are then separated by distillation of the mercury which is then condensed and reamalgamated with a body of alkali metal, the Whole in a continuous cycle within -a closed vessel at low pressure. By this invention a means is providedby which the product of the reaction` as that of mercury or its equivalent with an alkali metal, is thermal'- ly decomposed and the mercury condensed and again used to form an amalgam which is then decomposed and so on in a cycle to generate a current by repeated contact reaction. Vhile mercury is selected as a desirable material, other elements such as bismuth or their amalgams can be used satisfactorily. As the relatively electro-positive material, potassium has been found to be a very practicable element for this application; but other alkali metals such va rubidium, caesium, sodium, etc., can be used, as I have experimentally demonstrated.

The device and its method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description of the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment of the invention, showing a sectional view thereof trap therein 1l, and lower conduit l2. Con-v necting with manifold 5, is inlet pipe 6, controlled by a valve for introducing the mercury amalgam. In chamber 2El is a body of potassium or a weak amalgam 3u, which is maintained at an approximate level with amalgam 3 in chamber 2, by conduit 12. Cooling systems 7 and 9 are placed about portions of the vessel l. Tube 8 and potassium body 3a, are used as terminals for connection in an eitternal electricv circuit. At la is a nipple through which vessel l is evacuated to as high a degree as is practicable.

As heat is applied to the mercury-potas sium amalgam 3, in chamber 2, mercury is distilled from the amalgam, passing through manifold 5. The temperature of the amalgam in the condenser side is maintained below the vaporizing temperature of mercury.

In the area surrounded by cooling element -7, the vapors are condensed and' the metals precipated iioW into metal tube 8, and thence through the orifice, which is close to the top of potassium body 3 making electrically conductive contact between the tube and the potassium body and there forming an amalgam with potassium body 3a. The heat generated in the reaction forming the amalgam is carried oit' by coolinganembcr 9, the cooling fluid being applied only in suiiicient quantity to dissipate the heut genera-ted by the combination between the alkaline metal and the mercury body. When the mercury flowing out of the metal nozzle makes contact with the potassium or weak amalgam in chamber 2a, an amalgamation of the metals is effected and a potential is there generated which is transmitted through the circuit com-1 prising the precipitating metal, the metal tube, the amalgam 8, in the reaction chamber, and the external Icircuit represented by terminals 13 and 14.

The amalgam or reaction product formed in chamber 2 raises the level of the liquid in that chamber so that it gravimetrically flows back through conduit 12 to boiler chamber 2. The temperature difference between the two amalgams also serves to promote the flow of the newly formed amalgam to that in the heated chamber. Trap 11, serves to prevent the passage of vapor from chamber 2a `to vchamber 2 and likewise serves to prevent the passage of the product of distillation from chamber 2 to chamber 2a. The eX- haustion of the entire apparatus to the vapor pressure of the materials contained therein serves to maintain at a minimum the energy necessary for the vaporization of the materials. In some cases it might be desirableato add an inert gas such as helium to assist in cooling. The temperature of the first condenser should not be brought to the point at which the potassium solidities; it must be. maintained in a liquid state.

lVhat I claim is:

1. An apparatus for generating electric-al potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrically insulating material partially thermally insulated, and having a vaporizing chamber containing an amalgam, another chamber containing another body of amalgam, a .manifold for discharging metal vapor from said vaporizing chamber, means for condensing said vapor above the second mentioned chamber and means for discharging said condensed fluid into contact with the second mentioned amalgam, said means comprising a metal tube having an orifice adjacent the second mentioned amalgam, a conduit connecting said chambers for the passage of the amalgam from the second mentioned chamber to the vaporizing chamber, another conduit, having a trap therein, connecting the upper regions of said chambers, means for connecting the contents of the sec ond mentioned chamber and the metal tube in an external conductive circuit, and means for heating the content of the lirst mentioned chamber.

2. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrically insulating material partially thermally insulated and having ai vaporizing chamber containing a body of amalgam, another chamber containing another body of amalgam, a manifold for conducting metal vapor from said vaporizing chamber, means for condensing said vapor above said second mentioned chamber, means, comprising a metal tube having a relatively small orifice adjacent the `second mentioned body of amalgam, for discharging said condensed vapor into contact with the second mentioned body of amalgam, a conduit for the passage of amalgam from the second mentioned chamber to the vaporizing chamber, means for connecting the contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal tube in an external conductive circuit and means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber.

3. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrically insulating material partially thermally insulated and having a vaporizing chamber containing a body of amalgam, another chamber containing another bod of amalgam,amanifold forconducting meta va por from said vaporizing chamber, means for condensing said vapor above said second mentioned chamber, means, comprising a metal tube having a relatively small orifice adjacent the second mentioned body of amalgam, for discharging said condensed vapor into contact with the second mentioned body of amalgam, a conduit for the passage of amalgam from the second mentioned chamber to the vaporizing chamber, means for connecting the contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal tube in an external conductive circuit, means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber, and means for cooling the content of the second mentioned chamber.

In testimony whereof, I, SAMUEL RUBEN, have signed my name to this specification, this 16th day of September, 1929.

SAMUEL RUBEN. 

